Solid state electronic wristwatch

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a solid state electronic wristwatch incorporating a calendar display. The same electro-optical elements are used for the calendar display as are used to display time. The principal components of both the time and calendar circuits may be formed on a single large scale integrated circuit chip. The watch is of modular construction for ease of assembly and reliability. Also disclosed is a setting magnet for the watch stored in the watch bracelet.

United States Patent [191 [111 3,803,827 Roberts Apr. 16, 1974 4] SOLID STATE ELECTRONIC 3,668,861 6/1972 Mitsui 58/50 R WRISTWATCH 3,707,071 12/1972 Walton 58/50 R 3,664,116 5/1972 Emerson 58/50 R X [75] Inventor: Dennis A. Roberts, Washington Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson [73] Assignee: Time Computer, Inc., Lancaster, Pa. Assistant Examiner-Edith C. S. Jackmon Filed Feb 1 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-LeBlanc & Shur [21] Appl. No.: 328,639 [57] 7 ABSTRACT [52] U 8 Cl 58/4 A 58/58 Disclosed is a solid state electronic wristwatch incor- [51] G04; 19/24 porating a calendar display. The same electro-optical 58] Fie'ld 23 R 50 R elements are used for the calendar display as are used 58/55 1 5 to display time. The principal components of both the time and calendar circuits may be formed on a single [56] Referen es Cited large scale integrated circuit chip. The watch is of c modular construction for ease of assembly and reli- UNITED STATES PATENTS ability. Also disclosed is a setting magnet for the 2,166,742 H1365 Sherwin 58/50 R X watch stored in the watch bracelet.

,328,954 7/1 67 Miller... 3,613,351 10/1971 Walton.... 20 Claims, 38 Drawing Figures 5a 62 FREQUENCY g FREQUENCY DISPLAY I STANDARD CONVERTER ACTUATOR ?AIENTEDAPR 16 m4 SHEET 01. or 19 PATENTEDAPR 16 I974 FIG. 8A

236 OSCILLATOR 56 7 saw m u? 1 SEE FIG. 5B

PATENTEHAPR is 1914 LN DECODER SEE FIG. 8A

sum as or 19 DISPLAY INTENSITY CONTROL SEE FIG. 8C

Y PATENTEDAPR 16 m4 3 803827" SHEET 08BF19 PATENTEUAPR 16 IBM SHEET agamaoazv MTENTED'APR 16 m4 sum 10 or 19 I a I I I l .1

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PATENTEDAPR 16 I974 sum "11 or 19 E dE ' PATENTED APR-16 mu SHEET 12 0F 19 ZATENTEU APR 1 6 1974 SHEET 13 OF 19 FIG. I8

PATEMTEDAPMW agawafizir sum 15 or 19 FIG. 22

PATENTEDAPR 16 m4 sum 17 a? 19 FIG.

FIG. 28

PATENTEDAPR 16 I974 sum 19 0r 1 

1. A wristwatch comprising a source of constant frequency signals, a time computing circuit coupled to said constant frequency source, a calendar circuit coupled to said time computing circuit, an electro-optical digital display, said time computing circuit and said calendar circuit respectively producing time and calendar information in binary coded decimal form, a common decoder coupling both said time computing circuit and said calendar circuit to said display, a first manually operated switch coupled to said time computing circuit for energizing said display from said time computing circuit in response to operation of said first switch, a second manually operated switch coupled to said calendar circuit for energizing said display from said calendar circuit in response to operation of said second switch, strobing means in said time computing circuit so that time information appears on only one of said four stations at a time, and means coupling said strobing means to said calendar circuit for strobing the calendar information supplied to said display from said calendar circuit.
 2. A wristwatch according to claim 1 wherein both said switches are magnetic field responsive devices.
 3. A wristwatch according to claim 1 wherein both said switches are magnetic reed switches.
 4. A wristwatch according to claim 1 including timing means coupled to said first switch for energizing said display a predetermined length of time in response to operation of said first switch.
 5. A wristwatch according to claim 1 including a third minute set switch coupled to said time computing circuit and a fourth hour set switch coupled to said time computing circuit for setting minutes and hours respectively in said display.
 6. A wristwatch according to claim 5 including means coupling said first and second switches to said display whereby simultaneous operation of said first and second switches causes the day to be displayed and set on said display.
 7. A wristwatch according to claim 6 including means coupling said second and fourth switches to sAid display whereby simultaneous operation of said second and fourth switches causes the month to be displayed and set on said display.
 8. A wristwatch according to claim 1 wherein said time computing circuit comprises a seconds register, a minutes register and an hours register, and said calendar circuit comprises an am.m/p.m. counter coupled to the output of said hours register, a day counter coupled to the output of said a.m./p.m. counter, and a month counter coupled to the output of said day counter.
 9. A wristwatch according to claim 8 wherein said display includes a pair of colon dots, and means coupling said a.m./p.m. counter to said colon dots.
 10. A wristwatch according to claim 8 wherein said hours register counts from one to twelve, and month discriminator means coupling said day and month counters whereby the total count of said day counter is varied in accordance with the count in said month counter.
 11. A wristwatch according to claim 8 wherein said display comprises a pair of hours stations and a pair of minutes stations, and means for coupling said month counter to said hours stations and said day counter to said minutes stations.
 12. A wristwatch according to claim 11 including means coupling said minutes stations to said seconds register whereby said minutes stations may also display seconds time information.
 13. A timepiece of sufficiently small size and power consumption for use as a wristwatch comprising a case, a one-piece frame of electrical insulating material mounted in said case, a frequency standard and an electro-optical display mounted on said frame in said case, a time computing circuit coupling said frequency standard to said display, and a calendar circuit coupled between said time computing circuit and said display, said time computing and calendar circuits both being mounted on said frame in said case.
 14. A timepiece according to claim 13 including a battery removably mounted on said frame.
 15. A timepiece according to claim 14 wherein said battery is mounted on one side of said frame and said display and both said circuits are mounted on the other side of said frame, said battery being coupled to said circuits and said display through apertures in said frame.
 16. A timepiece according to claim 15 wherein said frequency standard comprises a crystal oscillator including a trimmer capacitor, said capacitor being mounted on the same side of said frame as said battery.
 17. A timepiece according to claim 16 wherein said case includes a removable back plate for easy access to said battery trimmer capacitor.
 18. A timepiece according to claim 17 including a substrate mounted on the other side of said frame, both said time computing and calendar circuits being mounted on said substrate.
 19. A timepiece of sufficiently small size and power consumption for use as a wristwatch comprising a frequency standard, a time computing circuit coupled to said frequency standard, a calendar circuit coupled to said time computer circuit, an electro-optical digital display, a common decoder coupling both said time computing circuit and said calendar circuit to said display, said display comprising four display stations for displaying time, said calendar circuit including means for supplying day information to two of said stations and month information to the other two stations, said display comprising a pair of colon dots between the second and third of said stations, said calendar circuit including means for supplying a.m. and p.m. information to said colon dots, strobing means in said time computing circuit so that time information appears on only one of said four stations at a time, and means coupling said strobing means to said calendar circuit for strobing the calendar information supplied to said display from said calendar circuit.
 20. A timepiece of sufficiently small size and power consumption for use as a wristwatch comprising a frequency standard, a time computing circuit coupled to said frequency standard, a calendAr circuit coupled to said time computer circuit, an electro-optical digital display, a common decoder coupling both said time computing circuit and said calendar circuit to said display, said display comprising four display stations for displaying time, said calendar circuit including means for supplying day information to two of said stations and month information to the other two stations, said calendar circuit including means for optionally blanking two of said stations so that the month information from said calendar circuit is not displayed, strobing means in said time computing circuit so that time information appears on only one of said four stations at a time, and means coupling said strobing means to said calendar circuit for strobing the calendar information supplied to said display from said calendar circuit. 